Spicy Peanut Stew With Ginger and Tomato Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Chris

VERY tasty soup. Rather than frying the eggplant, I skipped the salting step and just roasted in a 425 degree oven.

Matt

Okay, here goes. It's going to be one of *those* reviews... sorry, folks.

4 stars as written; 4.5 to 5 with the following modifications, inspired by many existing comments:

- 2x eggplant, and roast it
- 3x spices
- ??x shallots (I used 1 lb)
- ??x ginger (I probably used 8-12 tablespoons)
- 3x jalepeño, leave the seeds in at least one
- 2-2.5x chunky peanut butter
- 2x zucchini
- 2x lemon juice
- + can of chickpeas (why not?)
- + scallions (ditto)

I can't stop eating this stuff.

Steve

This recipe looks delicious but I am an 80 year-old widower and a list of 18 ingredients is daunting. Many of the spices called for would be used once or twice and die on cabinet shelves. I would appreciate it is you and your staff could present some far simpler recipes . . . designed for dotage chefs.

Anna B

Do not make my mistake: "Hmm, I'll add an extra GIANT scoop of peanut butter just 'cuz." No no no... follow the recipe. Basically I had to eat peanut butter on rice for a week.

Theresa

How does a recipe that has 47 minutes of actual cooking time plus a half hour of eggplant-sitting time, plus prep (granted, some can be done during the eggplant-sitting time) come out to take 1 hour? NYT consistently underestimates time on recipes, which can make weeknights difficult for those who aren't in on the secret handshake.

Eric

Delicious.

The fired shallots are lovely, but they kind of get lost with everything else that's going on. I would skip them next time.

Also, the step of emulsifying the peanut butter with a bit of boiling soup is a pain. Better to add the peanut butter to the pot slowly, one spoonful at a time, stirring constantly.

Natural peanut butter (nothing but peanuts) is a must, as is the lemon juice.

Pair with a nice strong malty winter ale.

Ella

So delicious--a great flavorful base (though I increase the spices a bit and add garlic) to which you can add the veggies of your choosing. I've used sweet potatoes, winter squash, turnips, carrots, cauliflower, chickpeas, etc. in place of the eggplant and zucchini. I roast the root vegetables, rubbed in a little olive oil and the spices called for in the recipe, in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes before adding to the soup in the final step. Yum.

SH in SM

Great hack from my French uncle when he makes ratatouille - just microwave the eggplant! Faster, less mess to clean, and can use WAY less oil since eggplant completely soaks that stuff up.

JOANNE

substitute butternut squash for the eggplant

Jenny

I take back my previous post! When I tried this the next day, the flavors that had seemed masked by the peanut butter were transformed into something altogether new—the ginger, spices, tomatoes and fried onions had married into a warming, buttery, tangy magic. So note to self for next time: leave the ingredients as is, but make it to eat the next day!

Lisa D

Fabulous. The spices as noted result in a pretty mild stew, so it really can easily bear adding almost 2x each spice plus a little unsweetened cocoa powder for depth (my go-to for a bass note in tomato-based stews and ragus). It’s all thicker and more piquant the next day. Top with plain yogurt and a custom gremolata of minced fresh ginger, garlic, cilantro and fresh lime. Bam.

Bevey

I made this as written with one exception - reducing the broth for a thicker result. I thought this was OK but I would not make again. There are many steps and It's time intensive. The end result was not worth the effort, for my taste. I agree with others that the shallots are totally lost amid the other flavors. They would make a better topping than mixed in. I used chunky peanut butter and felt it was a good choice for the texture variation it provided.

Nancy K

The photo shows more of a stew than the soup this is. It really needed more vegetables but it's delicious. I added more zucchini which helped. Next I'll add even more vegetables. It freezes well

notes after making

Delicious! Not spicy enough- use two jalapeño next time. Used sweet potatoes instead of eggplant, worked well. Served with brown rice

mizbrown2u

The NYT Cooking App has supercharged my culinary life! But it would be more useful for those of us whose health requires dietary restrictions if the Times consistently provided nutritional info. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

Vicki

I would cut the eggplant into bigger pieces, they kind of melted away

SnarkyCook

I have this on repeat! I'm one of those that added chickpeas. Frankly, you can add many things that make this wonderful. The basic recipe is simply divine and open to expansion! So healthy too.

BH90210

Kind of fussy, when you could just saute the eggplant then add everything else to saute before adding the tomatoes. It's nice though. I agree with everyone who commented on the shallots not being worth it. I think if they were tossed in cornstarch before being fried, the texture would have come through. Overall, this was tasty and even better the next day.

Benjamine

This was the worst recipe I ever made from here. It involved so many steps and the soup was runny and too acidic. My whole family was disappointed. I saved it by adding a bit of coconut milk and extra spices.

Rebekah

Double the spices at least. Make the sauce a day ahead. Made with eggplant cooked in the micro and scooped out of its' peel then diced, and roasted sweet potato. Lime chile peanuts, cilantro, lemon all added a good touch. Brown rice. Sourcream chive chicken cutlets along side and Oatmilk chocolate pudding made a perfect dinner for my vegan daughter and her nonvegan boyfriend.

cassidy

Okay, not bad. Not sure if I would make it again

sneha

One of my favorite recipes! My modifications:- Shallots: Gets lost in the stew adds more cooking time than the end result is worth.- Zucchini: I don’t like zucchini chickpeas (2 cans): works great with the flavors

Rob

I made this with tofu cubes instead of eggplant and it came out great.

KASM

We’ve tried this as is and also with sweet potato instead of eggplant and zucchini. With the sweet potato, it’s one of our favorite recipes!

TimL

Delicious. Per some of the feedback: - bumped up spices by about 1.5 times - fried the shallots in advance and kept them aside as topping after - used one whole jalapeño, and one seeded jalapeñoThese seemed to be all good decisions and I'd make it that way again next time.

Melinda

Tripled the spices. 1 1/2 jalapeño, 3T at least of minced ginger, roasted the eggplant, added can of chickpeas, topped with cilantro, peanuts and currants. Delicious

AFierro

Seriously, five stars? Lacks texture, flavor, and takes much too long for what one end up with. I have now a big pot of mess for leftovers. I plan to add cauliflower, butternut squash, and salt.

AngieA

Very easy and quite delicious! Add spices and seasoning to your taste, and add in other veggies as you like. I roasted the eggplant, per others’ suggestions. Tasty over rice!

gen

Loved it. Replaced the shallots with some garlic. I'll definitely do this again. Will probably add some tofu next time.

emily

Lots of prep, not a ton of flavor

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Spicy Peanut Stew With Ginger and Tomato Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make stew taste richer? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

What is West African peanut stew Wiki? ›

Peanut stew or groundnut stew, also known as maafe (Wolof, mafé, maffé, maffe), sauce d'arachide (French) or tigadèguèna is a stew that is a staple food in Western Africa. It originates from the Mandinka and Bambara people of Mali. The proper name for it in the Mandinka language is domodah or tigadegena (lit.

What is the secret to good beef stew? ›

Start with leaner meat.

For a rich, succulent stew, resist the instinct to buy the gorgeously marbled piece of meat you would want for a steak or roast. Look instead for cuts with cartilage, tendons and (at least a few) bones: Chuck, brisket, oxtails, cheeks and shin are ideal.

What can I add to my beef stew to give it more flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

What do Nigerians call peanuts? ›

In many parts of Africa, peanuts are usually known as groundnuts because the nut pods grow underground.

Why is it called African peanut stew? ›

This peanut stew has a similar flavor and ingredients profile, but it originated from the Mandinka and Bambara people of Mali. A huge reason for its popularity throughout Africa is due to the cultivation of groundnut -- or peanuts -- throughout the continent during the colonial period.

Where does African peanut stew come from? ›

Peanut stews are found across West Africa, with ancient roots in dishes made with native groundnuts before the peanut arrived from the New World in the 16th century. Maafe can trace its origins to the Mandinka and Bambara people of Mali.

How do you make bland stew taste better? ›

From boring to brilliant: Five easy ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. Advertisem*nt. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chilli peppers. Adding something spicy is a sure way to transform an underseasoned dish. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 13, 2023

How do you fix a tasteless stew? ›

Personally I would add as many aromatics and flavor enhancing substances that I like. If the stew is already finished, then you can sauté onions, garlic peppers, celery and carrots then add them to the stew. I would also add some herbs and finally salt and pepper to taste.

How do you fix bland beef stew? ›

Add plenty of pepper and some salt and it should taste better. Using beef stock or red wine is better than water for the liquid. Use just enough to cover the meat and vegetables. It's better to use less liquid if possible so you don't end up having to thicken the stew later with corn starch or similar.

Does cooking stew longer make it taste better? ›

Don't Rush the Stewing of the Stew

Your beef stew needs at least two hours, sometimes three, on a low burner, so the meat is tender, and the flavors mingle. This isn't a dish to rush; it's a dish to make on a lazy weekend so you can enjoy the smell as it stews.

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